It has been awhile for #24. Jeff Gordon last won a race at Atlanta in September of last year. In 38 races (Yeah, he’s old) at ‘Dega, Gordon has 6 wins, 4 of which have come in the Spring race. Coincidentally, Jeff’s last pole came here, April 17th, 2011 at Talledega. Gordon would go on to finish third that day, behind teammate Jimmie Johnson and Clint Bowyer. Gordon ran a 191.623 MPH in today’s qualifying session, compared to Allmendinger’s 191.111.

Last week’s winner, Kyle Busch, will head out tomorrow in row 11 along side his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin. Kyle has had about as much success here as Lebron James has had in the NBA Finals, which is zero. Busch has averaged a 25th place finish at Talledega in 14 career races, BUT, he does have 1 win here. It came in 2008, some may argue it shouldn’t even count because he basically won everything that year, but a win is a win. No. 18 lead only 12 laps that day when he held off Juan Pablo Montoya and Denny Hamlin to win the 2008 Aaron;s 499.

Greg Biffle tries to protect his point lead heading into Alabama, sadly, it doesn’t look like he will. Biffle currently holds a 5 point lead over Dale Jr, who has 6 wins here, and a 9 point lead over Hamlin. ‘Dega has bullyed #16 in his career, and I mean it. Biffle has been chewed up and spit out by the Super Speedway. He has averaged a 21st place finish in 18 races here, with just 1 Top 5.

Location: Talladega, AL

Track type: Super Speedway

Defending race winner: Jimmie Johnson

Start time: 12:00 ET Sunday on FOX

Official lineup for Aaron’s 499 at Talladega:

1. #24 Gordon 191.623 MPH

2. #22 Allmendinger

3. #9 Ambrose

4. #43 Almirola

5. #5 Kahne

6. #16 Biffle

7. #99 Edwards

8. #14 Stewart

9. #55 Waltrip

10. #17 Kenseth

11. #21 Bayne

12. #42 Montoya

13. #2 Keslowski

14. #39 Newman

15. #56 Truex Jr.

16. #26 Wise

17. #27 Menard

18. #88 Earnhardt

19. #48 Johnson

20. #29 Harvick

21. #18 Ky. Busch

22. #11 Hamlin

23. #1 McMurray

24. #15 Bowyer

25. #13 Mears

26. #38 Gilliland

27. #30 Stremme

28. #32 Labonte

29. #31 Burton

30. #20 Logano

31. #78 Smith

32. #34 Ragan

33. #51 Ku. Busch

34. #10 Reutimann

35. #98 McDowell

36. #97 Elliot

37. #87 Nemechek

38. #36 Blaney

39. #23 Richardson Jr.

40. #83 Cassill

41. #93 Kvapil

42. #47 Labonte

43. #33 Raines

Failed to Qualify:

#49 J.J Yeley

Who to watch:

Kevin Harvick has been relatively quiet thus far. You didn’t actually think it would last forever, did you? Don’t worry Harvick fans. He’ll break out in a big way tomorrow. Kevin has always ran good here, carrying 1 win to his name, along with 6 Top 5′s. Don’t be surprised if we see Harvick in Victory Lane tomorrow night slamming a couple Budweiser’s.

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